Camel Racing Storms Back in Sinai After 6 Months of Virus Hiatus

Camels run on a dirt track during a race in Egypt's South Sinai desert after a hiatus of more than six months due to the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
Camels run on a dirt track during a race in Egypt's South Sinai desert after a hiatus of more than six months due to the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
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Camel Racing Storms Back in Sinai After 6 Months of Virus Hiatus

Camels run on a dirt track during a race in Egypt's South Sinai desert after a hiatus of more than six months due to the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
Camels run on a dirt track during a race in Egypt's South Sinai desert after a hiatus of more than six months due to the coronavirus outbreak. AFP

Spread out at the foot of a vast plateau in the Sinai desert, hundreds of excited Bedouins gathered to race their camels after a six-month break due to coronavirus.

Shrouded in a vast sand cloud kicked up by the hump-backed beasts, more than 500 camels were loudly cheered on by their owners dressed in traditional jalabiyas and headdresses.

Camel racing is a popular traditional event in many Arab countries, and in Egypt, Bedouins of the South Sinai desert have kept up the tradition.

But race events have been suspended since March following the Covid-19 outbreak, and orders only came down at the beginning of the month that they could resume last weekend, AFP reported.

The camels ran around a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) track in the Tih plateau, completing it in a matter of minutes, as they were followed by spectators and owners riding in SUVs to get a close-up glimpse of the action.

The competition "is a training for the international race, which should take place in October in Sharm el-Sheikh," Saleh al-Muzaini, head of the Nuweiba camel club, told AFP.

One group of camels after another, placed in different categories according to age and whether they were male or female, made their debut on the dirt track lined by sand embankments on each side.

On their backs sat mechanical jockeys wearing racing jerseys and brandishing whips, which are lighter than human riders.

In a different race, young boys mount the camels to complete a 10-kilometre course.

Among the audience was 32-year-old Mostapha Abu al-Fadl, a geologist at an oil company in Cairo, who came especially to watch.

"When I heard they were organizing the race again, I told my friends how crazy, how wonderful it is... We had to come and see," he said.

To the Bedouins, the race is a way of keeping a traditional heritage alive.

"There was camel racing in the past, but we revived it" in recent years, Sheikh Hassan, of the Alegat tribe, which organises the event, told AFP.

"Camels will not disappear for us. We can use them for centuries. If the camel goes away, the Bedouins will also go away."

Camel races -- held every two or three months -- often attract large audiences of tourists, visitors and Bedouins to the middle of the Sinai desert.

Sheikh Hassan, however, says the sparsely populated peninsula with its breezy and dry weather had been only mildly affected by the pandemic, and there were no coronavirus measures noticeably in place for the racing.

Suspending the races caused heavy losses for the camel owners, who still had to pay for their animals' training, food and health checkups.

Over the six months alone, the owners lost some 10 and 15 million Egyptian pounds (between $625,000 and $940,000), according to Sheikh Hassan.

For owner Soleiman Hamad, Saturday's race ended on a high note as his animal came first in its category.

There is no prize money, but the winners carry off a prestigious trophy which also helps boost their animal's value.

For Hamad and others, camel racing represents a source of additional income, provided they also have the means to train, feed and care for the animal.

"It's costly, but it's our passion," he told AFP.

Each camel costs up to 2,000 Egyptian pounds monthly to feed.

A well-trained camel can sell for up to two million Egyptian pounds, says Sheikh Hassan.



Jeddah Historic District Program Set to Host Red Sea International Film Festival in December

Held under the theme "The New Home of Film", the festival will take place for the first time in the Culture Square of Jeddah Historic District. (SPA)
Held under the theme "The New Home of Film", the festival will take place for the first time in the Culture Square of Jeddah Historic District. (SPA)
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Jeddah Historic District Program Set to Host Red Sea International Film Festival in December

Held under the theme "The New Home of Film", the festival will take place for the first time in the Culture Square of Jeddah Historic District. (SPA)
Held under the theme "The New Home of Film", the festival will take place for the first time in the Culture Square of Jeddah Historic District. (SPA)

The Jeddah Historic District Program, affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture, will host the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) from December 5 to 14.

Held under the theme "The New Home of Film", the festival will take place for the first time in the Culture Square of Jeddah Historic District, providing a unique setting for artists and culture enthusiasts.

The Culture Square features cinema halls, a theater, and service facilities, along with the teamLab Borderless Jeddah Art Museum, a digital art museum. Situated by Lake Al-Arbaeen, the square offers scenic views of the surroundings.

As part of its commitment to preserving heritage and promoting cultural creativity, the program has transformed the square into a cultural landmark while retaining the area's architectural essence. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goal aiming to establish the area as a global cultural hub.

At this year's festival 120 films from 81 countries will be screened, including 48 world premieres, 66 Arab movies, 34 Saudi films, 54 short films, and 63 feature films.

Moreover, 36 filmmakers will vie for awards, and 38 outstanding film and television projects will be featured at the Red Sea Souk Project Market, highlighting a variety of storytelling styles and talents from across the globe.